A multi-national company has been fined £26,000 after a radiographer was overexposed to ionising radiation while working at a North East site. The 69-year-old man had been working for Mistras Group Limited in December 2020, when the company was notified by their approved dosimetry service that he had received a dose in excess of legal limits.

The incident happened at Mistras Group Limited’s former site in Hartlepool when a gamma emitting radioactive source used for radiography had not returned to its shielded container. Due to poor compliance with the company’s own radiation safety protocols this was not identified promptly, resulting in a radiation overexposure to the radiographer.

Alarming Electronic Personal Dosemeters (EPD’s) and radiation monitors had been provided by the company but were not being used by the radiographer. If they had been, their alarm would have gone off highlighting the presence of radiation and allowed the radiographer to retreat to a safe location. Radiation incidents had not been reported correctly.

The investigation also found there had been a number of failings made by the company to ensure employees were following its rules and procedures for radiation protection. Instructions within their local rules had not been followed and supervision had not been sufficient to identify the lack of compliance. The company had received previous enforcement by HSE for similar failings.

HSE specialist inspector for radiation Elizabeth Reeves said: “Industrial radiography is a hazardous practice if not managed properly. Radiation protection is an area where employers and employees must not become complacent with.

This prosecution demonstrates that the courts, and HSE, take failure to comply with the regulations extremely seriously.”

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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/company-fined-26000-after-north-31802738